DUP: Clarity on standing orders call

The DUP has called on the members of Sinn Fein to clarity their position on when standing orders within council business can or cannot be suspended to discuss matters of importance.

The call follows the failure of DUP man Maurice Devenney to suspend standing orders on Thursday at the latest meeting of Derry City and Strabane District Council.

He and other members of the Unionist bloc had hoped to discuss the three nights of disorder that took place in the Cityside a fortnight ago.

Speaking after the meeting Mr Devenney said: “We have not opposed the suspension of standing orders on any occasion when other parties have requested it.

Recently, when Sinn Fein councillors requested the suspension to allow discussion on attacks on their councillors, this was not opposed,” he said.

“The DUP are wondering whether this is a new stance on behalf of Sinn Fein and question if the objective was to avoid having to condemn the despicable scenes witnessed within our city this week.

“We wanted to condemn the terrorist activity witnessed, when masked men fired shots within the city and followed this by a show of strength by masked men on Monday last.

“This has undermined the good work that has taken place in the city over the last number of years. What was witnessed on the streets of Londonderry was a glorification of terrorism. The events that have been witnessed in the city over the last week have outraged the Protestant, Unionist and Loyalist community.

“The DUP have consistently condemned this type of activity, no matter who has carried it out,” he said.

“The silence from Nationalist and Republican representatives on this issue has been very evident.”